Striking Amcu miners gather at stadium

Marikana, Rustenburg - Disgruntled mineworkers were slowly converging at the Wonderkop stadium in Marikana on Thursday ahead of a strike on the platinum mines in the North West by labour union Amcu.

A small group in the stadium were dancing and singing about President Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

“Hey wena, Zuma, Mantashe stop being an idiot,” they sang.

Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union at Lonmin in Marikana, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala mines were pushing for an entry-level monthly salary of R12,500.

On Tuesday, the companies said Amcu's wage demands were unaffordable and unrealistic.

Impala Platinum cancelled its Wednesday night shift at its Rustenburg operations and would continue to do so for the duration of Amcu's planned strike, the company said.

This was to mitigate the risk of violence and to ensure the safety of their employees.

Earlier, North West police said Amcu leaders must ensure that their protest does not become violent.

Police spokesman Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said picketers were not allowed to interfere with public order policing, destroy property or intimidate those going to work.

“Police will be deployed to ensure peace and security but the strike remains a labour matter and the SA Police Service would like to urge all...striking miners to respect authority and the rule of law.”

He said mine management had a duty to ensure adequate security within the confines of their property for those on duty.

Forty-four people were killed during a violent strike at Lonmin's Marikana operations in August 2012.

Thirty-four were killed on August 16, 2012 when the police fired at them.

Another 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week. - Sapa